Clarke entered the history books after taking the nation back to the World Cup and Robertson reckons nobody can deny he is now the country's greatest boss.
18:00, 19 Nov 2025
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GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 18: Scotland Head Coach Steve Clarke points his finger in the air during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier between Scotland and Denmark at Hampden Park, on November 18, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Andy Robertson insists Steve Clarke has cemented his status as Scotland’s greatest ever manager by ending the nation’s 28-year wait to reach the World Cup.
The skipper revealed Clarke delivered a speech for the ages ahead of Tuesday’s euphoric Hampden victory over Denmark.
And he reckons the country now has to give the 62-year-old the opportunity to decide whether he wants to stay on beyond next summer’s showpiece in North America.
Tuesday’s epic 4-2 win will be enshrined in Scottish football history alongside the manager who became the first ever Scots boss to qualify for three major tournaments after back-to-back European Championship appearances ended two decades in the doldrums.
Robertson has been at the forefront as Clarke’s skipper in all three. And he reckons the feat has elevated the manager - who has led the nation more times than any other boss - above esteemed predecessors including Craig Brown, Andy Roxburgh and Jock Stein.
Robertson said: “For me, he'll go down as the greatest manager of Scotland's history, there's no denying that.
“Two Euros, one World Cup, the most capped manager. He has done unbelievable since the day he came in and I can't give him enough credit.
“You know people say he's too loyal to players, or maybe sometimes his style of football is not to their liking and things like that.
“He gets things done and that's proven it and I can't thank him enough because it wouldn't have been possible without him.
“His speech was up there with the best speeches I've heard before the game. If any lads were nervous, that certainly calmed us all down after it.
“What he spoke about, what he said, the belief he had in the players, it gave us the belief that we could then go out and perform.
“And I think the fast start was probably down to him, in terms of what he'd said. He doesn't get emotional too many times, but I think he was a little bit emotional before the game, certainly emotional after the game, all of us were.”
Clarke has said he is 75 per cent likely to leave his role when his contract expires following the World Cup.
That will mark seven years in the job. But he won’t make a certain decision until after leading the country out across the Atlantic.
And asked if he would like the manager to extend his stay further, Robertson said: “That's up to him. He'll have that decision to make.
“I think the country will give him that chance to do so and I think it will be completely up to him and his family whether he decides that.
“Look, we'll cross that bridge. We have got so many exciting things to come up before that.
“We've obviously now got two friendlies in March, which is amazing to even say.
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“Everyone probably thought we would have two massive games in playoffs. We've now got two friendlies to get us prepared for a World Cup, which is absolutely unbelievable and then the summer he'll take care of himself.
“The Tartan Army are going to America and that's the main thing.”